A private collection of material focusing on the never ending joys of the Trimet industrial complex
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Dispatch/Control clips represent approximately 5% of all calls chosen at random

Trimess

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Saturday, December 8, 2012

2 DECENT SUPERVISORY REPORTS THIS WEEK

This is a less than “formal” After Action Report
for the Jingle Bell Run (Operations Order 121201-1) because…well, the
Rail Department’s services were not needed for bump-thrus..in large part
because someone in a hummer decided to practice
their obstacle course maneuvers down the Glisan Right of Way west of
the Steel Bridge.

Upon our signing
into the West side Controller’s air, we were directed to give Unit 9909 a phone call for instructions. We were told that there
was no service on the mall due to an auto in
the ROW at the Glisan ramp. We were given alternate assignments to
assist with train movement. Supervisor went to the Galleria
stop to assist in offloading trains, and I went to the 11th Ave. terminus to assist with switch work for incoming
Green/Yellow trains.

HEREISTHEISSUE:

At approximately 0900, I received a phone call from
Unit 9909 directing me to report to the Glisan ramp to
assist in test train operations, as there may be some things that may
come up that he may not be certified/qualified
for.

While enroute, I was stopped northbound on 5th
at Burnside due to the run and Portland Police traffic control. Upon
my arrival at this point, two buses pulled in behind me. My overhead
lights were on and flashing. I asked
the officers posted there when they thought I would get a chance to get
through the group, even suggesting maybe a break through one of the
gaps. The non-transit officer X said that he had
instructions to only allow trains to be bumped thru
and then once in a while; he had no instructions about buses or Trimet
trucks…I’d have to find another way or wait till the end of the race.

I told him I was trying to get to the place where
the accident had occurred in order to start testing trains in order to
resume service. He asked me why couldn’t I go around? I attempted to
show him on the map that the area I needed to
get to was surrounded by closed roads. I again asked about maybe being
allowed through a gap with the buses (there were now 3 or 4). As I was
trying to explain this, he just turned and walked away while I was
still talking to him (during this, one of our
road sups had walked to me and basically told me “good luck”).(wow, the police have no respect for Trimet obviously)

I looked at the Transit Officer for help, and she came over and asked again about going
around. I showed her on the map. She went over to X and
spoke with him and then after a moment, they stepped up
to stop foot and vehicle traffic to make a gap for us. I almost missed
it because no one had said anything to us that they were going to do
this and Ofc. X was just so indifferent. We got through the gap
and I attempted to thank them on the way thru.
This incident from start to finish was about 20-25 minutes. I
proceeded to the Glisan ramp without further incident.

This situation highlights an ongoing problem we seem to be having with PPB. While I personally
LOVE having their assistance and this ISNOT a
matter of them not doing their job (quite the contrary), somehow the
details are not getting passed down from the organizing committee(s) to
the ranks. In the relatively few (dozen) events
I have worked at/for TriMet, the PPB reps at the corners seem to have a
disconnect as to what they can and cannot allow thru the intersections
and they will not waver from that mandate they believe they were given
(while commendable, difficult to deal with
when your boss is wanting the exact opposite). They ARE doing their
jobs wonderfully and we ALL greatfully appreciate their presence in
helping us to maintain control.

I respectfully request your assistance in helping OUR planning team find a way to assist PPB AND US with this.
--------------------------------------------

First of all, getting a
phone call at 1115 to tell me that I could not get the requested shifts
except by using district cars, when the briefing was scheduled for 1130,
is just plain pathetic. I had it figured out
yesterday what I needed to do so the phone call was wasted time.

As for the event itself it
would appear numbers were down significantly. At the beginning of the
event route we were all clear in less than 25 minutes where in years
past it took 45-60 minutes to clear. We were clear
of all reroutes and blockages associated with this event by 1256. I
will list all the locations where I used supervisors and give a brief
description of their duties.

SE 28th/Holgate to assist inbound 17 with reroute and advise when tail of event was clear of 26/Holgate.

Center Garage to be sure
deadheading buses used Center St. and advise operators of reroutes to
line 17 and NB 70. (earlier I had spoken to the Center S/A and advised
that operators wanting a 17 or 70 to go to a relief
would have to get up to Milwaukie to get their bus.)

The right lane of Barbur
was closed (and coned off) from approximately SW Lane St. to Capitol. OB
stops at Hamilton and Rasmussen Village were closed. It would appear
that because of the timing of this event the
best way to staff it is with am or pm district cars. Whatever seniority
allows. Just be careful not to cut yourself short of having a couple of
first responders in the event of an unrelated disruption of some kind.
That about sums it up.